One Take Sessions with KilkennyMusic.com

The third installment of the KilkennyMusic.com One Take Sessions series for 2009 takes place this coming Thursday night in Cleere’s with four more top-drawer acts on the cards. Now in its third full year, the ‘Sessions have already played host this year to Bill Coleman, Bailer, The Resistance, Jimi Cullen and more.

The lineup for April 23rd includes three debut acts in the forms of Star Crossed Enemies, Valentine Black and Chucky’s River along with a very welcome return for ODi, one of the highlights of the 2008 series.

“We aimed to bring new music into Kilkenny”, says organiser Ken McGuire “and that’s what we continue to do. We’ve already seen a number of debut acts this year as the reputation of the night continues to grow and this week we’re delighted to continue the trend of bringing fresh acts to Kilkenny, for free.”

Hailing from Dublin, Star Crossed Enemies are the first of three new faces to the next round of the ‘Sessions. A semi-acoustic pop duo, they’ve been gigging around Ireland “giving away free biscuits” to those going to their gigs, along with their debut EP offering of D.E.P. Currently in the midst of an Irish tour, the duo take to Scotland later in the summer before recording and releasing their debut album, Mercury & The Painted Sky.

Valentine Black writes and plays music in the alt-country/folk-rock vein. Having spent a long time playing in original rock bands and various cover bands in the clubs and pubs of Ireland and beyond, Peco Mc Loughlin grew a bit disillusioned with ‘the music business’, more so the business than the music! He decided to take some time off, go back to basics and make the music that was most natural for him to do. So he borrowed his grandfather’s name and began to do just that. ….

During a break from playing in rock band Bright Light Fiasco (previous guests at the One Take Sessions) over the summer of 2008 he recorded a number of songs for his debut album, due for independent release in early 2009. Songs on the album are about everything from the scene outside a small town nightclub at 3am, to teenage suicide, to the old chestnuts of love and loss. The music is influenced by artists like Ryan Adams, Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Springsteen and bands like James, Wilco, The Band, and The Clash to name a few.

Chucky’s River have been in the making quite some time. Frontman Diarmuid Comerford appeared at the One Take Sessions in 2007 and 2008 and returns with a new band for 2009. From Wexford, the group entered the studio yesterday (Thursday) to start work on their first EP.

The charismatic personalities and diverse musical attitudes of three musicians (Diarmuid Comerford, Conor Stafford and Cupie) are amalgamated to form the musical force that is Chucky’s River. The sheer driving nature of the songs coupled with the real life observational lyrics of Comerford make the band’s music both compelling and arousing.

On the back of singles including Crawl and A Superman, ODi returns to the One Take Sessions as a fan favourite of the 2008 series. Described as “a singer/songwriter who manages to blend elements of Joan Armatrading’s pathos, Beth Orton’s eye for the quirky and deep with a touch of Dido’s bedsit romance”, she arrives back in Kilkenny in advance of the release of her debut album this September. A recording session over the Easter break also saw her link up with Colm MacConlomaire of The Frames / Swell Season to add some string arrangements to the new recording, the first single from which will be released in June.

The One Take Sessions are a free night of music and the organisers at Kilkenny Music are hoping people can join them on Thursday night.
“It’s a rare thing to get one or two bands for free these days, but to get four acts for free is another thing altogether”, continues Ken (McGuire). “We’ve a lot of established acts on the horizon, like ODi, and some new acts as well right up to December so we’re hoping that people will come along, support independent music and perhaps broaden their own musical horizons at the same time. We’ve got 14 free shows this year but such is the demand that if we get one act in, you might not see them again for another year – don’t miss out.”

Tracks from each act can be heard all this month on the Playlist Mix podcast, an award-winning online show based here in Kilkenny, going out every Sunday night online at PlaylistMix.com.

Highlights too from previous nights including tracks from bands over the last three years and videos from recent nights at the ‘Sessions are available on our parent site, KilkennyMusic.com.

It all kicks off on Thursday night next at 9:30pm in Cleere’s and admission is free.

Following the announcement earlier in the week that we’ve got five acts playing this Thursday night, that number has been reduced to four with Chucky’s River aka Diarmuid Comerford and band now playing on Thursday April 23rd.

This Thursday night you’ve got Bailer (band), The Resistance (band), Johnny B and Jimi Cullen. First act to the stage in Cleere’s Theatre at 9:30pm with seating limited. Do come down, support independent music and enjoy a great night with some of Ireland’s rising independent acts.

Diarmuid Comerford, Bailer, The Resistance, Jimi Cullen and Johnny B make up one of the biggest (in numbers) bills for the One Take Sessions this coming Thursday night in Cleere’s Theatre as the series continues for its second outing of 2009.

“This is one of our biggest nights in terms of numbers of artists since we’ve started”, says one of the organisers, Ken McGuire. “The demand for slots at the ‘Sessions for the first half of the year has been incredible, and while it will be a busy night this Thursday, we’re delighted to welcome back a mix of familiar faces and new faces to the venue.”

Diarmuid Comerford hails from Wexford and is no stranger to the One Take Sessions series having performed during 2008 and 2007. Diarmuid Comerford spent the year that was 2007 touring around Ireland’s acoustic nights as well as a short London tour accompanied by the drumming brilliance that is Conor Stafford. The electric guitars have been dusted off a bass player in the form of Cupid was added to the lineup last year. This week’s performance will be Comerford’s third in as many years, with videos of his previous nights available on Kilkenny Music TV.

Fronted by Catriona McGuinness, Bailer was formed in 2001 and the band has performed at leading venues and festivals all over Ireland including The Point Theatre and Vicar Street. Regular supports with some of Ireland’s most popular acts like Aslan and The Hothouse Flowers have provided tremendous exposure.

Following a few EP releases, the band bring with them debut album Running, recorded in Dublin and released last July. Produced by Bobby Bought and mastered by industry legend Bob Katz, the album echoes all the melody and vitality of the band’s acoustic-driven live material while adding a brass section with some featuring some of the country’s finest jazz and classical musicians. While there might not be a brass section in Cleere’s this week, you can be assured of top-drawer performance from this four-piece making a welcome return to Kilkenny.

‘Running’ is the debut album from Irish band Bailer. Recorded in Dublin over the course of a year it features all the melody and vitality of Bailer’s acoustic driven live material, with the added excitement of a brass section featuring some of Ireland’s finest jazz and classical musicians. The album was produced by Bobby Boughton and mastered by US industry legend Bob Katz.

Dublin quintet The Resistance make their One Take Sessions debut this week. There are few bands out there that write intelligent music. There are few bands that come up with perfect harmony lines that capture your attention immediately. But when the right ingredients come to play and a right meeting of minds, there are no boundaries. This band began with a meeting of minds -“Rob and Dave” wrote all these well thought and crafted songs at home. Next came the additional musicians to give it new dimensions. Thus making up The Resistance. With a number of accolades already on their belt (Pick of the Week on Phantom FM, Pick of the Fortnight in Hotpress Magazine and numerous radio support Nationwide) the band have just completed their debut album, Bag of Bones.

A troubadour. The junkyard poet. Some of the names associated with Gorey’s Jimi Cullen who returns to the One Take Sessions for his fifth show over the past three years. Jimi has established himself as a ‘Sessions crowd favourite, his political meanderings through song often leaving the crowd in stitches. If you want to go on a journey from protest songs through love songs to those that squeeze every drop of emotion out of you, then Jimi Cullen is the man for you. You will laugh and nod with understanding when he sings of hangovers and you’ll cry when he reminds you of how many of us walk by homeless people on the street. Cullen can also be counted amongst the hardest working performers on the singer-songwriter circuit with over 500 shows to his credit in recent years.

Finally, from Cahir, Co. Tipperary, comes Johnny B with debut album Wrestle With The Devil. Fresh from an appearance in Brazil’s in Clonmel on Wednesday, Johnny is the third act this week making a ‘Sessions debut. The album, released at the start of the year sees all proceeds from sales go to the Chernobyl Childrens Projects.

For more details on each of the acts, plus music and video, visit KilkennyMusic.com or OneTakeSessions.com. The second One Take Sessions night of 2009 kicks off at 9:30pm this Thursday night in the intimate surrounds of the back room in Cleere’s on Parliament Street. First act takes to the stage with each act performing a twenty-minute set. With five acts on the bill and a running order decided on the night, those interested in attending this week’s free gig are urged to get down early to grab a seat.

Highlights of the last One Take Sessions in March, including performances from Bill Coleman, are available now on both KilkennyMusic.com and leading Irish online music video site, Muzu.tv. Photo coverage by Kilkenny Music’s Ross Costigan are also available on the site.

If you’re awaiting a reply on bookings, rest assured, your booking request has been received and there’s a whole batch of emails and calls going out tomorrow to acts looking for space from June onwards!

If you’re worried, you can always email us to sessions AT kilkennymusic.com but we should be in touch tomorrow.

The first of the videos roll off the production line with Bill Coleman’s ‘I Want You To Know’ now available on KilkennyMusic.com and via KilkennyMusicTV.

The One Take Sessions kicked off for 2009 last night with three acts taking to the stage. From Sunday onwards over the course of the week we’ll be releasing videos from Nick Day, Kieran Byrne and Bill Coleman. Darragh J Glennon, who was due to perform last night, couldn’t make it at the last minute but we’ll hope to catch up with him again later in the year.

The One Take Sessions continues with show #31 coming on Thursday April 2nd. If you want to join us and support the likes of Diarmuid Comerford, Bailer, The Resistance, Jimi Cullen and Johnny B then you’ll find us all in Cleere’s Theatre, Kilkenny starting at 9:30pm prompt. Admission, as always, is free.

With a quadruple helping of free music in recessionary times, KilkennyMusic.com’s One Take Sessions return to Cleere’s this coming Thursday on what is a double celebration for the popular music night, the series marking its thirtieth outing and also the beginning of the 2009 series.

With a reputation growing since its November 2006 launch, the One Take Sessions is rapidly becoming a staple ingredient in the calendar of many touring acts around the South East and this week is no different with three of the four acts on the cards coming from out of town.

Taking to the One Take Sessions stage on Thursday night are Kieran Byrne (Kilkenny), Nick Day (Wexford), Bill Coleman (Dublin) and Darragh J Glennon (Mullingar).

Native of Kilkenny, Kieran Byrne is no stranger to the One Take Sessions having performed each year since the 2006 launch. Familiar to many in Kilkenny as the front of ‘Frames cover band Silvertape, Byrne returns on Thursday night with a full catalog of new material previously unheard by the ‘Sessions audience.

“It’s a great opportunity for acts, both visiting and local, to showcase new sounds and new material to an appreciative audience and get some good feedback too before taking their music to the bigger stage”, says one of the organisers, Ken McGuire.

“While the opening night features four solo acts, we’ve also got a host of bands lined up for the year, all of whom are eager to bring their sound down to an acoustic level, some having never tried it before – we saw it last year and it can be a real eye opener and give a visiting band access to an audience they thought they’d never have for their music.”

Nick Day returns to the ‘Sessions for his third outing in two years.Born in 1962 in Kent, England and currently living in Ireland, Nick was raised on a jazz and classical diet with a generous helping of musicals. He supplemented this with his own taste for folk and new wave and enjoyed many avant-garde sonic adventures with the friends of his youth. He has performed with bands playing a variety of styles and has latterly undergone an extensive gestation period before venturing out on the solo path.

Nick has been sustained by the magic of Tavener’s mystical liturgical forms and the confessionals of Joni Mitchell alike and finds in writing the compulsion to communicate his corner of the world. He has married this to a guitar style that has developed out of a passion for the instrument’s expressive possibilities. He cites a lifelong love for the sounds of musicians as diverse as John McLoughlin, Pete Townsend, Martin Carthy and Vinnie Reilly.

The night also welcomes Dublin-based guitarist Bill Coleman arrives back in Kilkenny for his first One Take Sessions performance since April 2007. Performing solo on the night, his full band shows have sometimes been compared to those of The Flaming Lips “for the sheer zanyness, and positive, uplifting vibes to come from the music and the persona of Bill himself.”

Making a ‘Sessions debut Darragh J. Glennon was born in Mullingar and has lived there most of his life. He began playing guitar as a teenager and started writing songs at the age of fifteen. He has been actively playing live for the most part of four years spending most of his time in the group ‘Triega’.

He released his debut single ‘For My Love’ on Sounds IndiGo records in October 2008 as a limited edition, which sold out in release week. The single also enjoyed much success in the Irish Independent Download Charts peaking at No.6.

Working to promote music at all levels since 2005, Kilkenny Music is run by Ken McGuire, Ross Costigan, Alan Dawson and Michael Keogh. Local photographer Ross Costigan has a wide range of images on display through KilkennyMusic.com from previous One Take Sessions nights while music fans can listen to past nights via the Sound System Podcast available on KilkennyMusic.com and through iTunes.

The One Take Sessions takes place Thursday, March 12th in Cleere’s Theatre in Kilkenny and admission is free. First act 9:30pm sharp. For more details and information on upcoming nights, keep your eyes here on OneTakeSessions.com and via KilkennyMusic.com.

Issues outstanding with the online booking form have been resolved and we’re now taking bookings for July 16th through to December 2009.

Click here to book a slot.

There’s no room at the inn – at least until July.

Books are coming fast and furious for the One Take Sessions and the inbox has been a little clogged with requests for performance space up to June. While we’d love to fit everyone in, it’s simply not possible. If we haven’t gotten back to you yet, do feel free to pester us but there are no more slots available between March 12th and June 25th, the next available slot (at time of writing) is Thursday July 16th.

We’re also updating the booking form at the minute, had been flagged to a problem in relation to submitting bookings from certain people. You can also email booking requests to sessions@kilkennymusic.com but the available dates will be show on the booking form itself.

We’re almost set to launch the new One Take Sessions site and as we do, now is also a good time to tell you that you can now book online for the 2009 One Take Sessions.

We’ve been taking bookings over the phone / via email to sessions@kilkennymusic.com for the past few weeks which has resulted in the first three shows of the year filling up quickly, along with a selection of acts spread further throughout the year including and right up to November.

Hit the ‘Book A Slot‘ link in the top menu to get started and we’ll get back to you via email before confirming availability.